Inner Circle Dialogues

Center officials hosted the first such meetings a year ago to gather comments from arts supporters on the future of the center and strategic planning as the center began a new, two-year operations and management transition.

“One year later, here’s where we are,” board of trustees Chairwoman Carina Courtright said of the upcoming meetings. “The purpose is to update people on everything since — where are we going. The idea is to continue to engage the public and continue the dialogue.”

Arts supporters, center members, donors, and anyone interested in the arts is encouraged to attend one of the three sessions being held Sunday and Monday. Participants will be able to share ideas and help “define the future” of the center, officials said.

The discussions will be led by Courtright and interim CEO Jon Teeuwissen.

Leaders of the $81 million city-owned center are a little more than halfway into an estimated two-year turnaround intended to end years of budget shortfalls. They have succeeded in securing funding through grants, donations and sponsors, and hired a development director last fall to boost fundraising and community engagement.

“We still have every intention of balancing our budget this year,” Teeuwissen said last month. “We’ve restored every community event. We were able to raise all of the funding” to continue to hold popular events like the Christmas tree lighting and Día de los Muertos celebrations and add a successful 9/11 anniversary event.

“We’re building back up in a really sustainable, strategic way,” Courtright said.

The center’s venues have hosted several sold-out performances over the past few months, Courtright said, including British singer Morrissey in November and the Shen Yun Chinese dance company in January. The free WOW First Wednesday performances have seen full houses, too, she said.